The Young Carthaginian eBook

“Yes,” Malchus agreed, “but I fancy
these hill tribes are broken up into a very large
number of small villages in isolated valleys, only
uniting when the order of the chief calls upon them
to defend the mountains against an invader, or to
make a simultaneous raid upon the plains.”

As they neared the village several persons were seen
to issue out from the gate, and among these was a
small and elderly man, evidently the chief of the
party. His white hair descended to his waist;
a boy standing behind him carried his bow and several
javelins. The rest of the men appeared to be unarmed.

“He is a crafty looking old fellow,” Malchus
said as he alighted and advanced towards the chief,
“but I suppose he has made up his mind to receive
us as friends, at any rate for the present.

“I come, chief, as an ambassador from the Carthaginian
general. When we passed south he received messengers
from you, saying that you were ready to enter into
an alliance with him. To this he agreed, and
sent presents. Since then you have done nothing,
although he has sent to you urging you to aid him
by making an attack on the tribes allied to Rome.
In every battle which he has fought with the Romans
he has defeated them with great slaughter; but, owing
to the aid which they have received from the tribes
in alliance with them, they are enabled continually
to put fresh armies in the field. Therefore it
is that he has sent me to you and to the other chiefs
of the tribes inhabiting the mountains, to urge you
to descend with your forces into the plains, and so
oblige the tribes there to turn their attention to
their own defence rather than to the sending of assistance
to Rome. He has sent by my hands many valuable
presents, and has authorized me to promise you, in
his name, such lands as you may wish to obtain beyond
the foot of the hills. He promises you, also,
a share in the booty taken at the sack of the Italian
cities.”

“Will you please to enter,” the chief
said, speaking a patois of Latin which Malchus found
it difficult to understand. “We will then
discuss the matters concerning which you speak.”

So saying he led the way through the gates to a hut
somewhat larger than the rest.

“Do you enter with me, Trebon, but let your
men remain in their saddle, and hold our horses in
readiness for us to mount speedily if there be need.
I doubt the friendliness of this old fellow and his
people.”

Upon entering the hut Malchus observed at once that
the walls were covered with hangings which were new
and fresh, and he detected some costly armour half
hidden in a corner.

“The Romans have been here before us,”
he muttered to his companion; “the question
is, how high have they bid for his support.”

The chief took his seat on a roughly carved chair,
and seats were brought in for his visitors. He
began by asking an account of the state of affairs
in the plains. Malchus answered him truthfully,
except that he exaggerated a little the effects that
the Carthaginian victories had produced among the
natives. The chief asked many questions, and
was evidently by some means well informed on the subject.
He then expressed a desire to see the presents which
they had brought him. Trebon went out and returned
with two soldiers bearing them.